Adjustable guard for electric clippers



y 1962 P. H. HITSON 3,041,726

ADJUSTABLE GUARD FOR ELECTRIC CLIPPERS Filed Jan. 26, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Pierson hf Hi/son IN VEN TOR.

BY (M Em July 3, 1962 P. H. HITSON 3,041,726

ADJUSTABLE GUARD FOR ELECTRIC CLIPPERS Filed Jan. 26, 1961 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Pierson hf Hi/san AW WZ 70 INVENTOR. 1

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/ I WW HM United States Patent 3,041,726 ADJUSTABLE GUARD FOR ELECTRICCLIPPERS Pierson H. Hitson, 3652 Whiting Ave., Montgomery, Ala. FiledJan. 26, 1961, Ser. No. 85,037 Claims. (Cl. 30-201) This inventionrelates to, generally speaking, barbers hair clipper and, moreparticularly, to novel and reliable guard means through the medium ofwhich the user can clip ones hair long or short, as the case may be.

Present prevailing hair cutting practices necessitate the use of severalor more clippers and shifting from one to the other or; alternatively,providing a plurality of selectively applicable and removable toothedguards which have to be put on and taken off one after the other.Manifestly, both of the above stated methods or procedures aretime-consuming and are not acceptable at least by most barbers. It issubmitted that single clipper, if properly equipped should do thecomplete job.

The instant invention seeks to change and correct this situation andlooking toward this end a simple, practical and economicalattachment-type guard has been devised and, after considerableexperimentation is being effectually used. This guard is capable ofbeing attached to virtually all makes of hair clippers. Only the oneguard is required. This is to say, by properly construcing an allpurpose guard, it is simply applied and left in place and its positionrelative to the cutter head is manually shifted to cause the cutter headto cut the hair long or short according to the requested needs of agiven customer.

Briefly, the invention, construed as an applicable and removableattachment, comprises a suitably shaped plat generally rectangular inplan and bowed longitudinally to substantially conform with the curvatebottom side of the clipper body. A comb-like member, the guard proper,is provided across the forward or leading end of the plate. The teeth inthis comb-like member are disposed inspaced apart parallelism and arepreferably triangulate in side elevation. The vertical rearward edges orends of these teeth are provided with rows of notches constitutingselectively usable keeper seats for the leading edge of the stationaryguard of the usual cutter head and by adjustably seating said leadingedge in the desired row of notches the movable attachment guard isadjusted to the relative level or position desired. The trailing orrearward end of the plate is equipped with resilient hook-like orequivalent retaining mechanical means which positions and holds theplate in the position desired yet allows suitable adjustments to be madewithout taking the guard off to do so.

These together with other objects and advantages which will becomesubsequently apparent reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing bad to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, whereinlike numerials refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective of one embodiment of the inventionshowing it unapplied.

FIG. 2 is a view in section and elevation showing the invention appliedand ready for use and also showing, in dotted lines, the adjustablefeature.

FIG. 3 is a view in section and elevation showing the rear slottedshoulder portion of the clipper body or head 3,041,726 Patented July 3,1962 "ice and how the retaining means or hooks are employed inconjunction therewith to retain the rear end of the plate in position.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a modified form of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a view in section and elevation showing modified retaininghooks or means with the clipper appearing in phantom lines.

FIG. 6 is a view in section showing the manner in which the side clipsor brackets are constructed and utilized.

In FIGS. l-3, inclusive, the readily attachable and detachable guard isdenoted as a unit by the numeral 8. It comprises a longitudinally bowedplate 10 of requisite size which is generally rectangular in plan, theupper concave side at 12, and the lower convex side at 14. The rearwardor trailing edge is denoted at 16. The forward or leading edge 18 isprovided with the aforementioned gage means denoted as an entity (FIG.2) by the numeral 20. This means is of comb-like form or constructionand is made up of spaced parallel fingers terminating at outer endsthereof in a row of identical triangulate lugs or teeth 22. Therearwardly inclined front edges of these teeth are denoted at 24 and theslightly oblique angled edges of the teeth are denoted at 26 (FIG. 2).These edges are provided with rows of correspondingly constructedV-shaped notches providing keeper seats for selective reception of theleading edge or tip 30 (FIG. 2) of the cutter head 28. The tip isadapted to be selectively seated in the keeper notches or seats in amanner to adjust the plate 10 up or down or conversely, the cutter head28 up or down. The upper notches are denoted at 32, the lower notches at34 and the intermediate notches at 36. The extreme upper ends or apicalportions of the teeth are designated The means for retaining the rearend portion 16 removably in place on the clipper head is designated asan entity by the numeral 4-0 (FIG. 1). It comprises a substantiallyU-shaped spring embodying a bight portion 42 and lateral rearwardlydirected arms or shank portions 44. These portions extend beyond therearward edge 16 where they are bent laterally up at 46 and thenforwardly at 48 and terminate in pointed ends 50. The shanks 44 and thecomponent portions 46 and 48 provide yieldable retaining hooks. Inpractice these hooks are adapted to engage in an existing slot (FIG. 3)provided in the shoulder portion 52, the slot being denoted at 54. Thebight portion 42 has a coil intermediate its ends as at 56 and this isheld in place by a fastening such as a screw or the like 53. In FIG. 2the clipper head is denoted by the numeral 60, the bottom at 62 and thetop portion at 64. By applying the guard in the manner shown in FIGS. 2and 3 the plate 10 may be moved toward and from the bottom surface 62.01 stated otherwise, the cutter head may be adjusted up or down inrelation to the guard or gage means 20 merely by placing the terminaltip 30 in the selected keeper seats 32, 34 or 36, as the case may be.There is sufficient spring tension in the retaining member 40 to allowthe guard 8 to be handled and quickly adjusted without removing it fromthe clipper head 60'.

In the modification seen in FIG. 4 the construction is basically thesame as already covered. Here the attachment is denoted generally by thenumeral 66 and comprises a curved rectangular plate 68 with an upperconcave side 70 and lower convex side 72. The triangular spaced parallelfingers and terminal teeth 74- define the comb-like guard 76 and theforward edges of the teeth are denoted at 78, the upper tip ends at 80,the forward surfaces at 82 and the rearward edge portions at 84. Theseedge portions 84 are likewise provided with keeper notches 85. Therearward edge 86 of the plate is shouldered at 88 to provide a flange90. This flange carries the attaching and retaining means 92 embodying agenerally U-shaped clip having a bight portion 94 with a coil 96attached at 98 and terminating in additional cofls 190 carrying theattaching hooks and each hook includes a shank portion 102, a laterallybent rearward end 104 and a return bend or bent portion 1% terminatingin a point 108. It may be stated in this connection that if the clipperhead does not have the slot 54 shown in FIG. 3, the pointed ends 1% willengage the shoulder portion 52 and will sufficiently retain the rearportion 86 of the plate in position. To avoid side sway L-shapedbrackets 114 may be used. These are applied and held in position asshown in FIG. 6. Each bracket comprises a horizontal arm 112 with a slot114 held in place by an attaching and retaining screw 116. Theupstanding arm or limb 118 is provided with a V-shaped end 1 .2% whichyieldingly and frictionally engages the side surface of the clipper headin the manner shown in FIG. 6.

The construction shown in FIG. is similar to the other embodiments andis provided with the already described brackets 110. This embodiment isdesignated at 124 and embodies a plate 126 having an upper concave side128 and a lower convex surface or side 1341*. The comb-like gage orguard 132 is made up of spaced parallel fingers terminating at theirforward or leading ends in triangulate teeth 134 with upwardly slantingforward surfaces 136 and with a rearward edge 138 having selectivelyusable keeper notches 140. The arrangement of keeper notches is the sameas already described in connection with FIGS. 1 and 4. The principaldifference here is in the retaining and attaching means. Plunger-likespring-loaded hooks are employed. Each hook embodies a shank portion 142with a hook 144 having a bill 146 terminating in a point 148, the shankhaving a head 150 slidable in a recess 152 provided with a coil spring154.

In using the guards start at the bottom adjustment or, alternatively, atthe top adjustment but either way it should be moved one step oradjustment at a time and it will blend in with the other cuttings. Theguard has to be removed to finish around the bottom of the hair cut.

As is self-evident the herein disclosed guard has two diiferent cuttinglengths on each adjustment and will, by properly handling and tiltingthe clippers so that the guard teeth ars horizontal, permit easy andsafe contouring and will eliminate possible ridges of hair left betweeneach adjustment of the guard.

While this guard was designed for home use by amateurs it will tend tokeep professional barbers from changing and buying other types ofguards.

These two forms or embodiment (FIGS. 4 and 5) of the invention areapplied and used much the same as the embodiment depicted as FIGS. 1-3inclusive.

Some consideration is being given to the idea of abandoning the safetybrackets 110 and incorporating two permanent magnets (not shown) in lieuof the brackets but this idea is still under advisement.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles ofthe invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes willreadily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limitthe invention to the exact construction and operation shown and de- 4;scribed, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents maybe resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. In combination, a conventional type barbers hair clipper embodying aclipper body having a bottom, a cutter head extending across the leadingfront of the clipper body at the leading end of said bottom, stationaryshoulder means provided on the clipper body at the trailing end of thebottom, a guard comprising a plate opposed to and paralleling saidbottom, means on the leading end of the plate and adjustably cooperablewith said cutter head to establish and maintain the length of the hairbeing cut, and means at the rearward end of the plate for detachablyconnecting the plate with said shoulder means.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1, and wherein the first namedmeans is comb-like in construction and embodies a plurality of spacedparallel triangulate teeth, said teeth being lateral to the uppersurface of the plate and having upstanding rearwardly facing edges, saidedges provided with a plurality of alined notches and said notchesdefining keeper seats for selective reception and retention of theforwardmost portion of the stationary component of the cutter head,whereby to locate the plate closer to or further from the plane of saidbottom and likewise to vary the distance of the upper end of the teethrelative to the upper surface portions of the components of said cutterhead.

3. The structure defined in claim 2, and wherein the second named meansembodies plate attaching and retaining members which are releasably andyieldingly engageable With said shoulder means.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, and wherein said shoulder meansembodies an elongated slot, said members embodying hooks the terminalbill portions of which are projected into the slot and yieldingly heldagainst displacement and which stay in place while the forward end ofthe plate is manually adjusted.

5. In combination, a conventional type barbers hair clipper embodying aclipper body having a bottom, a cutter head extending across the leadingfront of the clipper body at the leading end of said bottom, stationaryshoulder means provided on the clipper body at the trailing end of thebottom, a guard comprising a plate opposed to and paralleling saidbottom, means on the leading end of the plate and adjustably cooperablewith said cutter head to establish and maintain the length of the hairbeing cut, and means at the rearward end of the plate for detachablyconnecting the plate with said shoulder means, and stabilizing bracketsadjustably' mounted on the side edge portions of said plate andfrictionally and grippingly applied to adjacent side surfaces of theclipper head.

6. A hair length regulating attachment for the cutting head ofelectric-type barbers hair clippers comprising a plate having a leadingend provided with upstanding spaced parallel teeth, said teeth providinga comb-like hair-length gage, said teeth having upstanding rearwardedges provided with selectively usable keeper seats, and means carriedby the rearward end of the plate for releasably connecting said end andplate to an intended part of the clipper head.

7. The structure defined in claim 6, and in combination, bracketsadjustably mounted on said plate and having grips which are adapted toclampingly embrace intended side surface portions of said clipper head.

8. The structure defined in claim 6, and in combination, bracketsadjustably mounted on said plate and having grips which are adapted toclampingly embrace intended side surface portions of said clipper head,each bracket being approximately L-shaped and the grip thereon beingV-shaped.

9. A hair length regulating attachment for the cutting head ofelectric-type barbers hair clippers comprising a plate having a leadingend provided with upstanding spaced parallel teeth, said teeth providinga comb-like hair-length gage, said teeth having upstanding rearwardedges provided with selectively usable keeper seats, and a generallyU-shaped spring having a bight portion yield ingly mounted atop the rearcentral portion of the plate, the rearwardly extending limbs of thespring terminating in hooks.

10 A hair length regulating attachment for the cutting head of barbershair clippers comprising a plate having a leading end provided withupstanding spaced parallel teeth, said teeth providing a comb-likehair-length gage,

said teeth having upstanding rearward edges provided with ReferencesCited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Smith Sept. 6,1892 Monyhan Apr. 15, 1952 Mazzoni June 2 1, 1960

